Researchers find new method to treat chronic infections

New York: In a finding that may lead to
new ways of treating chronic infections, the US researchers
have devised a method to eradicate biofilms or the communities
of bacteria which cause over 80 per cent of inflammatory and
infectious diseases.

Researchers at Binghamton University, New York, have
identified three key regulators required for the formation and
development of bio films.

"We have found a pathway of how the formation of
biofilms is controlled," lead author Karin Sauer said,
according to Science Daily.

"If we can figure out how to make use of this newly
discovered genetic programme, we can interfere with the
formation of biofilms and either prevent or treat biofilm
infections more successfully."

The researchers published their findings in journal
`PLoS Pathogens`.

Pseudomonas, an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium, is
considered to be one of the primary reasons for death in
patients with cystic fibrosis, a common and life-threatening
hereditary disease.

"We hope to use these discoveries to treat infections
by interfering with the way biofilms are growing and by
reverting biofilms back to a state where they`re more easily
treatable," Sauer said.